The following is a partial transcript of head coach and general manager John Hufangel’s comments to the media in a conference call following Sunday’s Western Semi-Final contest between the Saskatchewan Roughriders and BC Lions.
The Riders’ OT win over BC at Mosaic Stadium means Saskatchewan will be the opponent at McMahon Stadium on Sunday, Nov. 21 to determine who will earn a berth into the 98th Grey Cup at Edmonton’s Commonwealth Stadium.
Question: First of all, what are your thoughts on your opponents (for the Western Final) and second of all, was there any point during (the Western Semi-Final) when you stopped being a coach and started being a fan?
Coach Huff: It was a great football game. The epitome of the Canadian Football League. I changed my mind about what team we’d have to prepare for this week numerous times during the game because the momentum definitely did change. It was a heckuva game.
Question: What about the season series against the Roughriders?
Coach Huff: The season series means nothing. This is the Western Final. Saskatchewan is coming in here after having a great win and every game is its own entity. You’ve heard me say that before (and that’s especially true) in playoff football. We have to go out there and play a heckuva game and forget about what has happened in the past.
Question: Did you see anything (in the Western Semi-Final) from Saskatchewan that surprised you or opened your eyes?
Coach Huff: Not really. They played a style of defence that they have converted to over the last three or four games of the season with a pressure package, especially on first down, to try and stop the run. But no, from the limited vantage point that you get watching the game on TV, nothing really surprised me.
Question: Lots has been made in the past about the fanbase the Roughriders bring with them. Is that something you have to be wary of heading into next weekend even though it is a home game?
Coach Huff: No. I fully believe our fans will show up in red jerseys and cheer for the right team.
Question: (During the bye) you had a week of workouts. Did you get what you wanted from the guys?
Coach Huff: I think so. I was really pleased with the three days of work that we had. You guys (the media) were there and you saw it. They were high-energy, high-spirited practices. They were working hard and really trying to get better. They were competing against each other hard.